Well, that’s not entirely correct. There’s always going to be someone. But that is two of the bigger targets no longer on the radar.

Bryan Colangelo is all but gone. Andrea Bargnani will probably beat him out the door when his trade becomes official in nine days. How long Colangelo remains a consultant, only he knows for sure.

But there are a few things you need to know about the trade that sent Bargnani to Gotham in exchange for Steve Novak, what appears to be a reluctant Marcus Camby, a first-round pick in 2016 and second rounders in 2014 and 2017.

Most importantly that first-round pick coming back to Toronto in 2016 isn’t quite as potentially valuable as first appeared. Worse, it’s the direct result of the current Raptors GM being such a crafty negotiator in a previous role.

Turns out Masai Ujiri, in making the Carmelo Anthony deal when he was with the Denver Nuggets obtained the option on the Knicks 2016 pick. If it’s a higher pick than Denver’s, the Nuggets have the option to swap.

What it means for Toronto is that unless both the Knicks and the Nuggets are drafting in the lottery, this will not be a lottery pick unless the Nuggets are picking ahead of New York in that lottery.

Also, it appears Quentin Richardson will be the extra piece coming to Toronto to make the salaries work out. Richardson has reportedly signed a three-year deal (only the first year guaranteed) to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Raptors and make the Bargnani deal mesh with the current collective bargaining agreement.

Even with that, this is a good deal for the Raptors.

Bargnani had to go. It was never going to work here and those that suggest it might have not been paying attention the past seven years. Yes, there were glimpses of what everyone wanted Bargnani to become.

But they were just glimpses. If he figures out how to become consistent in New York, more power to him and the men that were able to get him there.

It certainly wasn’t happening here and there was nothing to suggest it ever would.

Ujiri can now continue his construction or deconstruction depending on how you look at it of the roster. There are no longer any untouchables or elements on the roster that have preferred status or even perceived preferred status.

That may have been the biggest problem with Bargnani. He was, for the bulk of his career perceived to be untouchable because he was a former first-overall pick. That status went away toward the end of his tenure here but not necessarily in Bargnani’s eyes.

A fresh start for him was necessary — just as necessary as a fresh start for the Raptors without him

CATCHING UP

That a Bargnani deal dominated the headlines on the eve of free agent signing is somewhat comical.

But there were plenty of other goings on, not the least of which was the full-court press the Houston Rockets put on Lakers free agent Dwight Howard in Los Angeles.

The Rockets pulled out all the stops bringing in Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and even Yao Ming via Skype to fully explain the virtues of the Rockets organization.

Howard will get similar treatment from the Dallas Mavericks and likely the Lakers too with Steve Nash heading back to La-La land from his off-season home in New York to convince him to stay.

What the eventual successful team luring him will get is a guy who can single-handedly change a game with his defence assuming he is back to full health and one that can rebound and score in bunches at the other end assuming he’s not standing at the free-throw line.

Howard didn’t exactly earn any man-of-the-year points the way he orchestrated his departure in Orlando, but there’s no denying his physical presence is a game-changer no matter where he goes.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

While the Rockets, Mavericks, Warriors, Lakers and possibly Atlanta Hawks chase Howard, the Detroit Pistons have set their sights on Josh Smith. The Pistons, like the Rockets did with Howard, organized a meeting with Smith as soon as the clock struck midnight on Sunday. But it’s not just J-Smoove they are after. The Pistons are were also expected to meet with Denver Nuggets free agent Andre Iguodala on Monday and have expressed an interest in keeping former Raptors’ point guard Jose Calderon who is also free agent eligible .... The Rockets aren’t just kicking tires with Howard. In order to free up the cap space to sign him, the Rockets have already traded Thomas Robinson, last year’s No. 5 overall pick in the draft for two European players who may never play in the NBA, have waived veterans Aaron Brooks and Carlos Delfino and have made it know both Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin are available to would-be trade suitors ... The Knicks are said to be in the running for Monta Ellis who turned down $11 million for the Bucks. The fact that the Knicks can’t offer him much more than $3.5-million seems lost on everyone in New York. Sure he wants to play for a contender but at that cost?

Pick that the Raptors are getting in Bargnani deal isn’t as good as previously thought

Well, that’s not entirely correct. There’s always going to be someone. But that is two of the bigger targets no longer on the radar.

Bryan Colangelo is all but gone. Andrea Bargnani will probably beat him out the door when his trade becomes official in nine days. How long Colangelo remains a consultant, only he knows for sure.

But there are a few things you need to know about the trade that sent Bargnani to Gotham in exchange for Steve Novak, what appears to be a reluctant Marcus Camby, a first-round pick in 2016 and second rounders in 2014 and 2017.

Most importantly that first-round pick coming back to Toronto in 2016 isn’t quite as potentially valuable as first appeared. Worse, it’s the direct result of the current Raptors GM being such a crafty negotiator in a previous role.

Turns out Masai Ujiri, in making the Carmelo Anthony deal when he was with the Denver Nuggets obtained th